https://www.icp.org/browse/archive/constituents/lee-friedlander?all-locations/all-years/all-media/all-genres/0
Name of Artist: Lee Feildlander
Dates of Artist’s Life: July 14th, 1934 - (84 years old)
1. Personal Background: (5 sentences. Culture, nationality, schooling, important life events, etc.)
*Lee Friedlander graduated from high school in 1952 and moved to Los Angeles to study (briefly) at the Art Center School in LA (1953-1955).
*He moved to NY (1956) and began his career by taking photos for Atlantic Records of their blues and jazz musicians (Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, and John Coltrane), he also began to work as a freelance photographer for magazines such as Esquire, Sports Illustrated, Collier’s, and McCall’s (Around 1960s).
*Lee Friedlander was granted Guggenheim fellowship by the Guggenheim Memorial Foundation in 1960, 1962, and 1977.
*He had his first major exhibition at International Museum of Photography at George Eatsman House (Rochester, NY).
*He was later diagnosed with arthritis; while being bound at home he photographed his surroundings and produced stems during the time of his knee replacement surgery.
2. Style: (5 sentences. What visual characteristics does this artist’s work possess? If you can compare it to a painting or art history style please do.)
*He focused on the social landscape of the late 50s and 60s as well as contemporary urban life.
*His photographs employed complex compositions that mixed both order and chaos (Created feelings of tensions, peculiarity, and unease).
*His photos are all in black and white focusing on everyday people, places, and things.
*Boring aspects of modern American life were transformed into surreal, strange places.
*Frequently took photos of himself using shadows and reflections, often masking his face.
3. Philosophy: (5 sentences. What were the major ideas behind this artist’s work? Where they personal, political, social, etc. What were they trying to “say” with their photographs?)
*Mr.Friedlander took a variety of different photos. He took personal photos of his wife and other members of his family.
*He took photos of televisions once they started to become more popular - explaining the social implications of the small screened T.Vs
*He took photos of American monuments, proposing a new look at romanticized political, military, and religious icons. - Took a photo of Father Duffy in front of a coca cola billboard, hinting at a tension between old forms of religious authority and the new religion of consumerism.
*Friedlander took photos of people that portrayed the political and social environment at that time (50s-60s). One particular photo showed white tourists amongst black people, who were obviously familiar with the area, in the same frame. But the white people were in front and more pronounced while the black people were in the back with their backs turned. (American race relations).
*He enjoyed taking self portraits that blocked out his face, normally confusing the hierarchy of the frame. He shows a new world where he (or people) are secondary behind obstruction and confusion.
4. Influences: (5 sentences. How has the photographer influenced you in your work?)* I appreciate historical photographs and his are from a more personal view. I really like the idea of photographing things differently based on how I see them especially in relation to the times.
*His style of taking photographs of himself have also helped me to see the usefulness of props, even if the prop happens to hide part of your face, it still gives the photo that complex look.
*Subtle showing of the changes in our environment are also very inspiring. You wouldn’t think that was what he was doing until you looked into the photo more.
*I enjoy his odd use of shadows to portray a more sinister tone. Especially when his shadow overcast on a random passerby.
6. Compare and Contrast: You will need to compare and contrast your final 3 images with the 3 images you choose by your photographer. (5 sentence.)
The only thing that I noticed that he did differently from my images were the ways he held the camera. Some of my images are vertically while others are horizontal. He also had a lot more details in his images that I couldn't provide in mine. The things that I got right were the positions of people. This was a hard photographer to portray because most of his images are from awhile ago when they still didn't have color images.
7. Personal Artist Statement: Your images should tell a story. In 5 sentences tell me about your image
I had fun with this project but only because I was able to boss people around and tell them how they should be arranged around my image.
Dates of Artist’s Life: July 14th, 1934 - (84 years old)
1. Personal Background: (5 sentences. Culture, nationality, schooling, important life events, etc.)
*Lee Friedlander graduated from high school in 1952 and moved to Los Angeles to study (briefly) at the Art Center School in LA (1953-1955).
*He moved to NY (1956) and began his career by taking photos for Atlantic Records of their blues and jazz musicians (Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, and John Coltrane), he also began to work as a freelance photographer for magazines such as Esquire, Sports Illustrated, Collier’s, and McCall’s (Around 1960s).
*Lee Friedlander was granted Guggenheim fellowship by the Guggenheim Memorial Foundation in 1960, 1962, and 1977.
*He had his first major exhibition at International Museum of Photography at George Eatsman House (Rochester, NY).
*He was later diagnosed with arthritis; while being bound at home he photographed his surroundings and produced stems during the time of his knee replacement surgery.
2. Style: (5 sentences. What visual characteristics does this artist’s work possess? If you can compare it to a painting or art history style please do.)
*He focused on the social landscape of the late 50s and 60s as well as contemporary urban life.
*His photographs employed complex compositions that mixed both order and chaos (Created feelings of tensions, peculiarity, and unease).
*His photos are all in black and white focusing on everyday people, places, and things.
*Boring aspects of modern American life were transformed into surreal, strange places.
*Frequently took photos of himself using shadows and reflections, often masking his face.
3. Philosophy: (5 sentences. What were the major ideas behind this artist’s work? Where they personal, political, social, etc. What were they trying to “say” with their photographs?)
*Mr.Friedlander took a variety of different photos. He took personal photos of his wife and other members of his family.
*He took photos of televisions once they started to become more popular - explaining the social implications of the small screened T.Vs
*He took photos of American monuments, proposing a new look at romanticized political, military, and religious icons. - Took a photo of Father Duffy in front of a coca cola billboard, hinting at a tension between old forms of religious authority and the new religion of consumerism.
*Friedlander took photos of people that portrayed the political and social environment at that time (50s-60s). One particular photo showed white tourists amongst black people, who were obviously familiar with the area, in the same frame. But the white people were in front and more pronounced while the black people were in the back with their backs turned. (American race relations).
*He enjoyed taking self portraits that blocked out his face, normally confusing the hierarchy of the frame. He shows a new world where he (or people) are secondary behind obstruction and confusion.
4. Influences: (5 sentences. How has the photographer influenced you in your work?)* I appreciate historical photographs and his are from a more personal view. I really like the idea of photographing things differently based on how I see them especially in relation to the times.
*His style of taking photographs of himself have also helped me to see the usefulness of props, even if the prop happens to hide part of your face, it still gives the photo that complex look.
*Subtle showing of the changes in our environment are also very inspiring. You wouldn’t think that was what he was doing until you looked into the photo more.
*I enjoy his odd use of shadows to portray a more sinister tone. Especially when his shadow overcast on a random passerby.
6. Compare and Contrast: You will need to compare and contrast your final 3 images with the 3 images you choose by your photographer. (5 sentence.)
The only thing that I noticed that he did differently from my images were the ways he held the camera. Some of my images are vertically while others are horizontal. He also had a lot more details in his images that I couldn't provide in mine. The things that I got right were the positions of people. This was a hard photographer to portray because most of his images are from awhile ago when they still didn't have color images.
7. Personal Artist Statement: Your images should tell a story. In 5 sentences tell me about your image
I had fun with this project but only because I was able to boss people around and tell them how they should be arranged around my image.